National Publicity Secretary of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Alhaji Marwan Adamu, has denied that the national body is in support of the ongoing strike by JUSUN in Kwara State over the reinstatement of Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb as the Chief Judge of the state.

Adamu said on Wednesday that the national body had accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court on Friday, reinstating Elelu-Habeeb.

He added that the union directed all its members to respect the judgment and go about their normal duties.

He said, "The position of the national body is that we accepted and respect the said judgment and directed our members back work immediately because it is illegal for them to go on strike.

"The Supreme Court judgment must be obeyed. Its verdict is final."

When our correspondent visited some courts in Ilorin on Wednesday, the gates were locked.

Despite the appeals to the workers by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade; Nigeria Labour Congress, Kwara State chapter and Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, they refused to return to work on Wednesday.

The Chairperson, JUSUN, Kwara State chapter, Mrs. Folake Laaro, said though JUSUN in the state was in support of the Supreme Court verdict, the workers could no longer work with Elelu-Habeeb.

She said, "It is important to reiterate here that the resolve of Kwara State judiciary workers to embark on this protest is exclusively a decision of the entire workforce aimed at protecting the image, integrity and the overall interest of the judicial system/administration from total collapse.

"This genuine intention should not be misconstrued to mean a disobedience or non-conformity with the judgment of the Supreme Court. We wholeheartedly support the judgement."

The workers advised the CJ to quit, "as a path of honour", adding that her return to office would be 'revengeful'.